Synchronizing talking motion picture machines



Oct. 20, 1931. w. R. MOORE. JR 1,327,947

SYNCHRONIZING TALKING MOTION PICTURE MACHINES Filed April 29, 1929gwuwntw Z7 9 WUiamRMomg-In Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WILLIAM B. MOORE, a., or necnasrown, MARYLAND, AEGIGNOR ro DECA.msc rnouoemrn comrnmr. or wanmsaono. PENNSYLVANIA, A conrorwrron orPENNSYLVANIA Application filed April 29,

This invention relates to mechanism for synchronizing talking motionpicture machines, an object of the invention being to provide means fortaking up all lost motion be- 5 tween the mechanism for playing therecord and that for projecting the pictures so that the music and thepictures shall perfectly synchronize.

A further object is to provide improved driving connection. between themotor and the several parts of the mechanism.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 15 which are made a part hereofand on which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my invention, I

Figure 2 is a detail view showing one of the driving connections,

Figure 3, a detail view of the connection between the motor and thetalking machine,

Figure 4, a detail view partly in section of the reducing gears betweenthe motor and the record playing table, showing the means for adjustingthe driving connections, and

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, reference character indicates a record table having aplaying arm 11 and suitable transmitting elements 12 of well knownelectrical pick up type. The record table 10 is mounted on a shaft 13and is driven by a motor 14 through shafts 15 and 16 and worm gearconnection 1.7 and 18. The motor 14 is preferably an 1800 R. P. M.synchronoiis motor, and the worm gear drive is preferably a fifty-fourto one reduction, whereby the record table. is driven 33 revolutions perminute. In order to provide a flexible drive between the motor and therecord table the shafts 15 and 16 are con nected by means of "a fibrestrip 19. This strip has slots 20 and 21 through which pins 22 in theends of the shafts 15 and 16 are positioned to connect the strip to theshafts. The slots permit a certain end play, and alsoprovvide a certainamount of torsional give in the fibre. This eliminates a considerabledegree of the shock due to the rotation of the motor necessary to take u1929. Serial No. 859,014.

and reduces vibration to a minimum. In synchronizing any two mechanismsit is all lost motion between the driving and driven -parts. This isarticularly necessary in machines for sync ronizing talking machines andpictures. It is necessary therefore that the worm gear-drive connections17 and 18 must be'as nearly absolutely correct as possible. In order toinsure such close contact I have provided means for adjusting the wormand worm ear b means of set screws 24and 25 which a just t e hearing inwhich the outer end of the shaft 16 rides toward or from the worm gear18. The bearing is carried in a sleeve 26 having a depending lug 27thereon against which the set screws 24 and 25 abut, these set screwsbeing adjustably threaded through ears 29 on a housing 30, which housinforms the support for the record table an its driving elements. Thesleeve 26 is pivoted at 31 to the frame or housing 30. The motor 14 ismounted upon a bracket or ledge 32 on the framework 33 which supportsdriving mechanism for the picture projecting elements. Shaft 34 on themotor isconnected b means of flexible connections 35 with a s aft 36.Suitable reducing gearing similar to that shown at- 17 and 18 iscontained in a housing 37 by means of which sprocket wheel 38 is drivenin a one to twenty ratio with respect to the motor 14,-tha-t is, thesprocket 38 is driven ninety revolutions per minute. A sprocket chain 39passing over a sprocket 4O furnishes driving connection to the shaft 41by means of which the picture projecting mechanism isdriven. Thesprocket wheel is carried upon a post 42 which is secured to the bed ofthe machine and which is braced by means of posts 43. An idle pulley 44is mounted on the support 43 this pulley being adjustable to providesuitable tension to the sprocket chain 39. Driving connection between.the sprocket wheel 40 and the picture projecting mechanism is shown indetail in Fig. 2- This driving connection consists of a shaft 41 havinga hub 46 secured on-one end by means of a pin 47. The end of the shaft41 is somewhat rounded to provide some free dom to the hub 46 to give itsomewhat of a swivel or universal joint action. The hub 46 is secured tothe hub of the s rocket by means of set screws 48. The ot or end of theshaft 41 has secured thereon a hub 49vhaving pins 50 axiall positionedin its end for en'- gagement wit holes or between the spokes in a wheelon the projection mechanism drive. the said mechanism being driven bymeans of the pins 50. The shaft 41 has a ke 51 which engages keyways 52in the shaft 41 the key 51 providin driving connection between the shaftan the collar 49. The key and the keyway in which it slides provide foraxial movement of the hub 49 along the shaft 41. A pin 53 is positionedin a hole in one side of the shaft 41 and is pressed outwardly by meansof a s rin 54 seated in the hole. The purpose of t e pin 53 is to holdthe collar 49 in operative position. The pin 53 may be ressed in topermit the hub to be moved ackward to disengage the pins 50 from drivingconnection with the means for driving the picture projecting mechanism,the pin 55 limiting the axial movement. When the hub is thus withdrawnthe projecting machine may be operated independently of the drivingmechanism so far described, the projecting machine having a motor of itsown for normally operating the pictures.

It will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that various changes maybe made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention,and I, therefore, do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawingsand described in the specification, but only as set forth in theappended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

Means operably connected to a talking machine and a picture projectingmachine to drive them in synchronism comprisin a motor, a motor shaft, aworm on said shat, a flexible connection in said shaft, a record table,a shaft supporting said table, a worm gear on said shaft, and means foradjusting the said worm toward the said worm ear for taking up lostmotion between the s aft of the motor and the shaft of the record table,substantially as set forth.

2. Means operably connected to a talking machine and a pictureprojecting machine for driving them in synchronism comprising a motor, amotor shaft, a record table, a shaft supporting said table, a flexibleconnection in said shaft between the motor and the record supportingtable, a worm on said motor shaft and a gear on the record tablesupporting shaft, a bearing supporting flexible connecting means withthe motor shaft, substantially as set forth.

3. Drivin means for synchronizing a talking machine record table andpicture rojecting mechanism comprising a motor, riving connectionbetween the motor and the record table of the talking machine, drivingconnection between the motor and the picture projecting mechanismincluding a driving and a driven sprocket and a sprocket chain, the saidlast named driving connection having a reduction gearing therein, and ashaft removablyconnected to the driving mechanism, the said removableconnection comprising a shaft havin a hub at each end, one hub havingpins axially positioned therein for engaging between the spokcs of apinion on the picture projecting driving mechanism, and the other hubhaving a semi-universal joint connection with the sprocket and sprocketchain drive, substantiall as set forth.

In witness whereof, i have hereunto set my hand at Waynesboro,Pennsylvania, this twenty seventh day of April, A. D. nineteen hundredand twenty-nine.

WILLIAM R. MOORE, JR.

one end of the motor shaft, and means for adjusting the said bearing toadjust the motor shaft with respect to the record table support ingshaft, and means in said flexible connection for providing axialmovement for the

